perpetual feud. I have collected the testimonies that are in the
following pages because such facts seem to me to need wider
recognition, if we are ever to gain an outlook upon a fairer and a truer
world.

If my desire for peace has anywhere shown itself unduly, or in a way
irritating to others, I ask forgiveness. Whenever peace is made, the
world will need a peace built on all the facts of human nature. I have
tried to give here some of those which war passions inevitably obscure.
That is the whole of my task.

HAROLD PICTON.
_September, 1918._

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: With the exception of a few minor insertions the
whole of this book was compiled, and the preface written, before
Peace came. It seemed, however, that it might only be harmful if
published then. I, therefore, kept the book back, but, as the
wording expressed my feeling as I wrote, I have left it
unchanged.]

The Better Germany in War Time

I.

MILITARY PRISONERS.

The cases of bad treatment of prisoners in Germany have been made known
very widely. No one, I imagine, can wish to defend bad treatment of
prisoners anywhere (even of criminal prisoners), and such a horrible
state of things as that of Wittenberg during the typhus epidemic is a
disgrace to human nature.

But Mr. Lithgow Osborne says: "My whole impression of the camp
authorities at Wittenberg was utterly unlike that which I have received
in every other camp I have visited in Germany." (Miscel. 16, 1916, p.
6). I propose to give some account of these other camps. I shall not
exclude adverse criticism, but as the public have heard little but such
criticism, I do not think it will be unfair to deal in these pages more
fully with the favourable reports.

LETTERS FROM OFFICERS AND OTHERS.

The following letter from a British Officer appeared in the _Times_ of
December 30, 1914. It may well serve as an introduction and a caution:

I do not doubt Private O'Sullivan's wonderful experience as a
prisoner, but his is, I am sure, only an isolated case, and not
at all the usual treatment to which British prisoners are
subjected. I can speak from experience, as I, too, was a
prisoner (wounded), but afterwards released, as the building in
which I was, along with several German wounded, was captured by